Really questioning my $1250 purchase!

Former Member over 5 years ago

So I bought the Fenix 6 Pro Solar. Cost me $1000. Then I had to buy a metal band. That's another $250. So already I have $1250 invested, plus tax. Since day one I've had nothing but issues.

First, the watch came with a 2 ft proprietary charging cord and no outlet hub/box. So right off the bat, if I don't have a laptop or desktop computer with an open USB port, I can't charge my phone. Even if I went out and spent the extra money to get a outlet hub/box, the 2 ft cord wouldn't reach any desk or nightstand. So I would have to charge my $1250 watch on the floor. I'm not sure about most people, but me; I am not partial to throwing my hard earned money on the floor.... Maybe I'm weird like that. Tried calling support, for their selling feature of no outlet box or long cord, and they responded with we don't have any long cords and we don't want to send out another outlet box/hub because so many other companies already have them...... Seriously? Then why don't you STOP MAKING PROPRIETARY EQUIPMENT!!!!!!!!!! Seriously. My laptop is on the fritz and I can't charge at work. So how else am I supposed to charge my watch? On the floor, that's how. Thank you Garmin!

Second. My sensors can't seem to make up there mind. First my elevation is at 21 feet, after a GPS calibration, then it jumps to 60 ft, now it's 91 ft. I'm pretty sure driving back and forth to work in the last week of having this watch hasn't caused the entire state to rise by 70 feet from the time i calibrated the sensor to today...... So, how does your sensor screw up that bad? For $1250, you may want to fix that. I'm seriously ready to send this watch back and get a Samsung watch for about a third the price, maybe less features, but I'm sure less headache too.

Third. Weather app isn't working. Read through the forum thread and they apparently fixed it 2 months ago with an update. Yeah, I guess I just one of the lucky ones. The temperature has been stuck at one temp for a week now. All my apps are updated according to Garmin Connect and Garmin IQ.

Last, but not least. The solar feature. I have a Citizen Eco-Drive watch. I've had it for 6 years and counting. Great watch. It charges with the sun. I've never had to worry about my battery. It just charges. I spent all day outside with this Fenix watch and I didn't even charge up a couple of hours towards my battery life. I have the battery data showing and it never moved. So I'm wonder, what solar feature is Garmin talking about? Is it really worth the extra $300, give or take, from the Fenix 6x Pro Sapphire series?

In conclusion. Is this watch really worth the price? No. It's not. In 5 years the watch's value will be about half, or less (most likely way less), then it is now. You are basically paying for a name.

With that being said, they have some good activity tracker apps. So if you are always active, IE: running, jogging, golfing (my favorite app and feature) etc etc etc then go with the Fenix 5 or 4 and save yourself a butt-load of money. Wait a year or two and this watch will be cheaper. Because it's new, it has flaws. Just not worth it. I will most likely return mine.

I hope this see other well. I know not every watch is the same. I'm probably just the lucky (or very unlucky) one that gets to experience all the flaws of the watch.

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0 Fenix Sixer over 5 years ago

In my opinion it's worth the money. If you hate it so much then return it, get the Samsung and move on with your life.

0 Saviden over 5 years ago

Sorry guy, but your complaints are falling on deaf ears (maybe you have a small argument with how much the Solar aspect actually charges). You spent half your post complaining about not getting a USB charger that you can get at Walmart or Amazon for a few bucks. This might have held water 10 years ago, not today.

If you’re unhappy, then return the watch and don’t buy any “Smart” watches anymore. Otherwise learn the functionality of the watch (I’m sure your permission settings aren’t correct and that’s why you’re not getting weather information) and you’ll begin to realize that there’s a TON to this watch

Good day.

PS: You didn’t HAVE to buy the metal band, that was optional

0 Former Member over 5 years ago

I'm pretty sure my settings are correct. I've gone through the entire watch options section by section. When i click on the weather widget it just sits there saying waiting for data.

What about the issue of the slowly rising altitude? Am I suppose to just calibrate my watch everyday?

I'm sure if this watch was fully functional it would be a nice watch. However, I'm not seeing it. I see a few useful tools and a really cool golf app.

Just for curiosities sake, I'll reset the watch from scratch and see if that fixes stuff.

As for the band, for a $1000 watch, the metal band should have an included accessory.

I guess my main argument now is money vs use and I just don't see it. It looks good and I get compliments but with the broken sensors and broken apps, i guess i just don't see it.

0 Pseudo-fed over 5 years ago

I considered the same watch. With an hour worth of research I knew about all the shortcomings that seemed to catch you by surprise. Did you research what the solar does and doesn't do? And did you spend $1250 (plus tax) on a watch and don't have a charging block? Flaws like altimeter and weather app could be legit, and of course you should contact Garmin support.

0 Pseudo-fed over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

I opted for the sapphire titanium model with metal band over the solar. Nearly as expensive as the solar, but not quite. I would be unhappy as well with broken features, and didn't mean to sound condescending in my reply. I do believe though that Garmin will fix certain things with firmware updates as they always do (my 5X bought recently has like firmware 14.xx). As for what it does and includes for the price, that of course is on you for research before purchase.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Pseudo-fed

I like a lot of the features. I guess I just don't see the extra money for the solar feature. I may go to the sapphire

0 Chris over 5 years ago

Hi !

When using a barometric altimeter without the knowledge about the measuring method and the influences, i would also be dissatisfied. But That's the normal behaviour of every barometric Alti watch. OK, there's an auto calibration on board. But this bases on other influences (GPS pos., Maps data...). And the 21 -91ft. is very likely possible during weather changes in about 3 hours. Please check your air pressure from a weathcer service and compare the rsulting alti change to you watches altimeter change. I bet this is the main influence.

And to the price: There are also versions for half of the price with same main functions and same charging cable.

There are still some little bugs and sensor quality deviations. But with actual Firmware, for my use it's the best outdoor sports watch out there (when you use it mainly for this !)

Regards,

Chris

0 Volker over 5 years ago

Next time, you should better look whats "in the box", before you buy something. And you can´t compare the solar functionality of a Citizen Eco-Drive with the solar functionality of a Fenix 6x Pro Solar: the Fenix is a smart watch with bt, wlan, music, maps...(you are comparing apples with pears).

You were hours outside and the battery never moved? Great, the solar functionalty has supplied the watch with power and no battery was used...

Here some useful informations, what can be expected from the solar charging function:

www8.garmin.com/.../GUID-694C4E14-D875-479F-AFB1-2A6A582FF506.html

But no problem, if this device "is not yours". Just go for a different model or a different manufacturer.

0 NemoSandman over 5 years ago

About your good faith and the way you spend your money:

Cables ? You can buy 2 for 9 dollars.
https://www.amazon.com/NEXGADGET-Replacement-Compatible-Vivoactive-Forerunner/dp/B07PBW23XJ/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=garmin+fenix+cable&qid=1576658193&sr=8-4

Titanium band ? Why spend 250 dollars when you are not even certain how to use your new watch and if you will enjoy it ?
And then once you know if you keep it or not they are excellent other titanium bands for a fifth of the price.
I have equipped all my Garmins since the 5X with those CHinese bands and really they are excellent value.

https://www.amazon.com/LDFAS-Titanium-Release-Compatible-Smartwatch/dp/B07KP421QH/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3GQZXCO2ZI0F6&keywords=garmin+titanium+band&qid=1576658405&sprefix=garmin+titanium%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzM0hKQ1ZaUEE1Q0dSJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzY2NzM1MlgxSEJXVEdTV0VBVSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODg3ODQyM041MzJHVEhIWVc1UiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

This is just another Revenge Thread with a clear desire to add oil on the fire.

0 Gr4z over 5 years ago in reply to NemoSandman

I bought the Garmin one for £200 but returned it as it wasn't worth the money. I bought the titanium one from AliExpress for $30. Its excellent for the money!

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33056746776.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.65714c4dX1YYTW